Feminine support device or garment for pregnant mothers&#39; accommodation

ABSTRACT

An aid and support device for accommodation and cradling, so that it upholds and supports the bulging belly of pregnant women or women undergoing pregnancy, whose object includes the maternal health during the last trimester of pregnancy. It specifically comprises a feminine support device or garment for the pregnant mothers&#39; accommodation, that comprises an adjustment garment (1) corresponding to a one-piece body that includes a chest area (2), an abdomen area (3), and a hip area (4); a wide girdle (5) arranged toward the protruding belly&#39;s area in the abdomen zone (3), comprising a strap of elastic fabric that is part of the one-piece body (1) and surrounds the body from the waist, arranged toward the protruding belly&#39;s area from a reinforcement strap (6) that vertically extends following the end silhouette of the one-piece body from the chest area (2) below the armpit area in a vertical direction toward the hip area (4) of the one-piece body (1).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is an aid and support device for accommodation and cradling, so that it upholds and supports the bulging belly of pregnant women or women undergoing pregnancy, whose object includes the maternal health during the last trimester of pregnancy.

It specifically involves a one-piece garment used to uphold and proportion the mothers' belly, which consists of a sleeveless short one-piece body with a control girdle in the abdomen area, where the garment is accessed through its neck toward the pants' sleeves and slided toward the upper area of the pregnant woman's body.

The garment or accommodation device for pregnant mothers under this invention, comprises an upholding device corresponding to a fitted one-piece body with an adjustment and control girdle; the device is manufactured in two different materials: one, which is self-adjusting and anatomical, soft to the touch, breathable and light, but with medium resistance, and the other one of a control-type adjusting and upholding fabric; and

a cushioning device shaped like a belt that surrounds the body with two wedges located at its ends, wherein such cushioning device is located above the upholding device. In preferred embodiments, this device is located around the body after the pregnant woman puts on the one-piece body.

This invention is applicable to the maternal health for the accommodation of pregnant women or mothers during the pregnancy's last trimester.

This invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an aiding device for the accommodation of pregnant women or pregnant mothers, directly involved with maternal health, as it corresponds to a feminine garment for pregnant mothers undergoing their pregnancies' last trimester; this garment is used to uphold and proportion the mothers' bellies; this is, it is a sleeveless, short, one-piece body with a control girdle in the area of the abdomen, where the garment is accessed through the pants sleeves. Likewise, the device has imperceptible seams, wide suspenders, and corresponds to a special garment for sleeping, light, fresh, and pleasant to the touch, that causes no irritation or discomfort as a result of the fabric's pressure, together with a cushioning belt whose crafting is based on biomimetics, as it was developed from the superposition of parenchyma or layers of different materials, thicknesses, and densities.

Likewrse, this invention includes a cushion in the form of a belt, which is thin and narrow in the waist area at the back, and is even up to the sides of the belly, where the wedges are. These wedges have a circular shape and are perforated toward the center to allow the product's breathing, which helps to improve the thermal sensation at the resting place. This belt has a strap with a Velcro closure, which fastens at will, so that the product remains attached to the body and does not move or become displaced with the movement; accordingly, when lying on decubitus position (lateral), the belly will remain supported on the wedges, which will relieve the pressure from the belly's weight. If the mother turns around, she will be in a supine position (face up) with her back resting on the cushioned belt, but she will feel no discomfort due to lordosis, which curves the spine upwards; this leaves a considerable space between the body and the resting place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the last trimester of the pregnancy, the mother's body suffers with the gestational changes and temporary deformation resulting from the ventral volume's increase and other alterations that include the heart's growth and displacement, atrial distention and arrhythmias, peripheral and nasal edema, pulmonary volume increase and increased oxygen consumption, displacement of the gastrointestinal area, nausea and vomiting, changes in the renal physiology, and systemic vasodilation and increased secretions consequence of the uterine pressure on the bladder. All of these phenomena cause pain and an inability to fall asleep for pregnant women (M D. C. Hill & D O. Pickinpaugh, 2008). Hence, the body tries to adapt to this new condition and because the mother frequently changes position due to the pain and discomfort during sleep, interruptions and difficulties arise preventing a proper rest.

Currently, pregnant women, especially during the last three months of their pregnancies, experience a considerable weight increase resulting from the fetus's growth, as it develops in a more advanced manner during this stage. This translates into a very heavy load that the pregnant women's entire body must carry; therefore, aiding elements providing support, so that the increased weight concentrated in the abdominal area may be carried more easily, are always searched for.

In addition to the above, it is important to stress that this increased weight may lead to serious problems in connection with the women's spines and, even their knees—that may appear even after the pregnancy—, as in certain cases the belly can grow to a point where the weight may be deemed beyond the normal parameters and exceeding the normal growth curve, which also creates discomfort in women, especially at sleep.

Thus, within the state of the art are a number of disclosures related to this type of devices or garments, among them document US 2016192715, which describes a support garment for use by pregnant women during their pregnancy stage. Such garment provides a mild support to the woman's body shape and acts as a holding device for the inner part, such as a pant, short, or skirt, with the garment having at least one shoulder strap, an abdominal panel, a hip band, two lateral panels, and a back panel, and is made of a high performance fabric with varying compression degrees to provide the desired support to the user and allow the baby's weight to be properly supported by the entire upper body.

There is also JP 2006083485, which discloses a maternity garment with an inner leg that easily supports the swollen abdomen of a pregnant woman, to help with the support in the middle and end of the pregnancy stage. This garment has a stretch girdle and a fastening or tightening part with tightening strength, designed to fit the woman's body. The lower end of the front side of the tightening part is formed along a first line of support that joins the pubic region with the upper part.

Furthermore, document FR 2738117 in the state of the art, describes a support for pregnant women consisting of a bottom garment with a central reinforcement, made in the shape of a panty or panty girdle, with adjustable supports intersecting at the front of the body, between the breasts, where they connect through a squared, round, or triangular shaped piece with a predetermined size. The support may be fastened, for example, with Velcro stripes or similar elements. The support is made, for example, from a mixture of cotton, Lycra, polyamide, elastane, polyester, and may be embellished.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5492496 describes a garment providing support to the abdomen when in a reclined position, which is particularly adapted for use by pregnant women. This garment includes an expandable front panel without pads, joined to two side panels crafted with layered pads enclosed in a soft material. The side panels extend 15 to the back wings that secure the garment to the user's back. The rear wings include adjustable fasting means. The front panel is expandable and joins smoothly at the top and bottom of the front panel to allow an increased automatic fitting in the abdominal region, and changes with the body's contour.

An expert in the field can clearly establish from the above information, that the current state of the art includes a series of support garments for pregnant women, the majority of whose disclosures include flexible elements that adjust to the user's body, while having an upper support element allowing the torso to aid with the support and a lower element that covers the belly from the inner leg part, so that the support is complete, especially during the late stages of the pregnancy.

Therefore, it is clear that the disclosures existing in the state of the art not only refer to elements that provide a partial support to the pregnant women's belly, but are not suitable for use at night or when sleeping, as they may be uncomfortable and bothersome for women during sleep, affecting them even more during this stage.

According to the above, it can be clearly established that, currently, there is an issue with pregnant women's comfort, especially during sleep, as presently no padded elements allowing the achievement of comfort at such time, exist for pregnant women. This, because the weight of the belly—resulting from the baby during the last stages of the pregnancy—cannot be supported with random elements, and the pillows or cushions that women regularly use do not provide a proper support while allowing them to move easily.

Therefore, the state of the art also shows that there is a need to design and implement devices or apparatuses that provide a proper support for pregnant women and may be used in the night, this is, during sleep. This requires such devices and apparatuses to be as comfortable and cushioned as possible, to provide a proper support to the belly, while preventing the weight of the fetus to affect the mother's activities, especially during sleep, which, as mentioned earlier, becomes quite affected during the last stage of the pregnancy.

In accordance with the above, this invention solves the problem in a more efficient manner, as it corresponds to a garment made up by two devices that work complementing each other; while one device upholds the abdomen and adjusts to it to provide balance and steadiness, the other one cradles the body and allows it to rest on it, providing cushioning, and accommodation and adaptation ease. Because it is both a portable garment and a complement, it also ensures permanent contact with the pregnant body, thus ensuring the mother's proper use of the product, even while sleeping.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a garment or support device for pregnant women, especially during their last stage of pregnancy. Such garment or device basically comprises two devices that work in complement, because while one device upholds the abdomen and adjusts to it to provide balance and steadiness, the other one cradles the body allowing it to rest on it, and provides cushioning, and accommodation and adaptation ease. Likewise, because the device of this invention is both a portable garment and a complement, it also ensures permanent contact with the pregnant body, thus ensuring the mother's proper use of the product, even while sleeping, as it provides a proper support that yields an enhanced and improved comfort.

Likewise, the garment or device of this invention has a first upholding one-piece body-type device that holds, secures, covers, and balances the pregnant body, while the second cushioning device supports, accommodates, cradles, and balances the voluminous body, regardless of the position adopted while resting, as it attaches to the body. Thus, both devices create a support garment, reduce the tipping over sensation on the belly, and help to recover the body's position in relation to the umbilical axis, recovering the space lost due to the weight through the cradling and balancing.

In accordance with the foregoing, the device or garment of this invention makes it possible to obtain a system or device that is portable, light, adjustable, multipurpose, anatomical, and washable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the invention and its advantages, compared to the state of the art, the possible forms of illustrative and non-limiting embodiments of the application of such principles are described below, with the help of the enclosed drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of the feminine support device or garment for accommodation, which the adjustment garment illustrates under this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the feminine support device or garment for accommodation, which includes the adjustment garment with the cushioning device under this invention.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the feminine support device or garment for accommodation, which includes the adjustment garment with the cushioning device under this invention.

FIG. 4 shows the top view of the cushioning device under this invention.

FIG. 5 shows the bottom view of the cushioning device under this invention.

FIG. 6 shows the lateral view of the cushioning device under this invention.

FIG. 7 shows the feminine support device or garment for accommodation in its position for use under this invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a support device or garment for use by pregnant mothers, especially during the last stage of their pregnancies.

Specifically, based on the figures, this invention comprises an adjustment garment 1 as a body upholding device corresponding to an adjustment one-piece body as illustrated in FIG. 1. Such an adjustment garment 1 generally comprises a chest area 2, an abdomen area 3, and a hip area 4.

In the preferred embodiments, the adjustment garment 1 is a sleeveless one-piece body that may comprise short pants, such as shorts, which extend covering the body up to each of the user's shoulders. In other embodiments, the one-piece body may consist of a garment that includes pants and long sleeves covering the user's whole body.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, this adjustment garment 1, additionally encompasses a control girdle 5 arranged toward the protruding belly's area.

Specifically, such girdle 5 comprises a strip of triaxial-type rigid control fabric that is part of the one-piece body 1, which surrounds the body from the waist, arranged toward the protruding belly's area from a reinforcement belt 6 that extends vertically following the end silhouette of the one-piece body from the chest area 2 under the armpit area, in a vertical direction toward the hip area 4 of the one-piece body 1. The reinforcement belt 6 is crafted from a single stroke from the projection of the one-piece body's pattern.

Thus, the total weight of the ventral zone FT of the abdomen area 3 is distributed toward the reinforcement belt 6 with F1 facing up and F2 down, so that:

F1+F2=FT

Based on this, the body's weight is distributed, thanks to the seams and the molds or patterns making up the garment, which are made of two different materials, one self-adjusting and anatomical, soft to the touch, breathable and light, but with medium resistance to cover the pregnant mother's body and provide her a comfortable and cozy sleeping garment, and the other one made from a control-type fabric that upholds and contains the belly, firmly cradling it to decrease sway and provide steadiness.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, under this invention, above the garment's support 1, the invention comprises a cushioning device 7 that covers the girdle 5 of the abdomen area 3.

On the other hand, according to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the cushioning device 7 comprises accordingly, a waist area preferably with a belt shape 8 that surrounds the waist and extends forward making up end left section 9 and end right section 10, where each one includes a lightbulb or ovoid wedge shape, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Each left 9 and right 10 sections of belt 8, comprise internal wedges 11 at each end, which cradle the mother's body providing it with new ways to accommodate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wedges 11 comprise an arrangement of layers or foam sheets disposed one upon the other, crafting a wedge. On the other hand, the wedges are housed in a cover of belt 8, made up by a combination of a breathable fabric and resilient materials capable of recovering their initial state after the disturbance they were subjected to ceases.

Particularly, the layered foam material of wedge 11, with shape memory and constituting a sandwich with respect to the belt cover 8, made up from a 3D-type fabric—that has a tunnel made from a polyester fabric facilitating the piece's anti-shock and resilience characteristics—and another textile—which also has shape memory and cushions, while allowing the garment's breathing and ventilation—, is crafted from a net, with a fabric with great cushioning and resistance, where the sandwich is preferably crafted on bases composed of 100% polyester and a polyurethane filling with three different densities and shape memory. Thus, the superposition system of parenchyma or layers of different materials, thicknesses, and densities was developed for such cushioning device 7.

To adjust the belt 8 on the belly area of the abdominal zone 3, the cushioning device 7 comprises a closure or fasting system such as the adjustment belt 12. Such closure or fasting system such as adjustment belt 12, comprises a left belt 13 that emerges from the left section 9 of belt 8 and a right belt 14 that stems from the right section 10 of belt 8, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

Thus, according to FIG. 7, coherently with the abdomen's shape, this invention proposes a wedge design 11 to cushion; wedges 11 in other embodiments are hollow in the center to allow breathing, and are located at both ends of the cushioning device 7 which is shaped like a belt, surrounding the body in order to use it on both sides; it also closures or fastens at the height of the abdomen, with belt 12 covering the belt 8 of the entire cushioning device 7 and fastening it.

Now, adjustment garment 1 corresponds to a one-piece garment with a fastening system made from a material that serves as a structure for the elastic and light garment, preferably composed by 90% polyester and 10% Lycra (spandex), and another control-type more resistant material, preferably made up by 80% nylon fiber (matt nylon) and 20% elastane, which upholds, stabilizes, and supports the belly without creating discomfort, soft to the touch, safe, easy to wear and used as a pant, proportioning and stylizing the figure, generating no odors, temperature, or skin discomfort.

In this sense, the intercostal area (lateral, crafted in a rigid material) of adjustment garment 1 comprises an upholding support located on the oblique muscles and the area of the protruding belly, so as to allow the belly to be cradled by a cushioning material, soft, and light, that generates no temperature or odors, does not irritate the skin, is small, portable, anatomical, allows accommodation, helps balance the weight, and allows the body's rest and recovery. In preferred embodiments, the crafting material is made from materials that recover following their deformation or have shape memory.

Preferably, adjustment garment 1 extends up to the user's knee, that is to say, it is a shorts-type garment, but its application as a one-piece body extending to the lower part of the leg is also contemplated, that is, in a manner similar to a full garment covering from the knees to the ankles, depending on the user's preferences, which also helps to provide proper support to the entire leg, allowing the fetus's weight to be carried more steadily.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the one-piece body's suspenders located at the top of adjustment garment 1, have a width in the range of 4 to 6 cm, preferably 5.5 cm, which is larger than that of those devices commonly used in the state of the art or found in commerce. This, in order to provide a more adequate support to the upper trunk of the user, while not biting on her body as a result of its larger width, which considerably improves comfort.

In another embodiment of the invention, the closure or fastening system, such as adjustment belt 12, can be selected from the group and consists of hooks, buckles, male-female Velcro elements, and the like, such as a belt with fasting or clasping elements allowing the cushioning device 7 to wrap around and fit to the user's body so that it maintains its position at all times.

Only some preferred embodiments of the invention have been referred to by way of example. In this regard, the construction of the feminine support device or garment for pregnant mothers' accommodation, as well as its configurative arrangements may be chosen from a number of alternatives without departing from the spirit of the invention, according to the following claims. 

1. Feminine support device or garment for pregnant mothers' accommodation, characterized by the fact that it comprises: an adjustment garment (1) corresponding to a one-piece body that includes a chest area (2), an abdomen area (3), and a hip area (4); a wide girdle (5) arranged toward the protruding belly's area in the abdomen area (3), comprising a strip of triaxial-type rigid control fabric, which is part of the one-piece body (1) and surrounds the body from the waist, arranged toward the protruding belly's area and stemming from a reinforcement strap (6) that vertically extends following the end silhouette of the one-piece body from the chest area (2) below the armpit area in a vertical direction toward the hip area (4) of the one-piece body (1); a cushioning device (7) that covers the wide girdle (5) of the abdomen area (3) and comprises a belt (8) that surrounds the waist and extends forward fashioning two end sections, left(9) and right (10), each of which comprises a lightbulb or ovoid shape wedge, and each left (9) and right (10) section of the belt (8) comprises internal wedges (11).
 2. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the reinforcement strap (6) is crafted from a single stroke from the projection of the one-piece body pattern.
 3. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the adjustment garment (1) is a sleeveless one-piece body with short pants -shorts-, which extends covering the body.
 4. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the adjustment garment (1) is a one-piece body comprising a garment that includes pants and long sleeves covering the whole body.
 5. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the belt (8) comprises a closure or fastening system (12) involving a left strap (13) that emerges from the left section (9) of the belt (8) and a right strap (14) that stems from the right section (10) of the belt (8).
 6. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the wedges (11) consist of an arrangement of foam layers or sheets disposed one upon the other crafting a wedge (11); these wedges (11) are housed in a belt cover (8) made up by the combination of resilient materials and a breathable fabric.
 7. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the wedges (11) are hollow in the center.
 8. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the belt (8) is made up from polyester fabric layers as in a sandwich and a polyurethane filling with three different densities.
 9. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the adjustment garment 1 corresponds to a garment made of a material that is 90% polyester and 10% Lycra, and the wide girdle (5) comprises a material made up 80% by fiber nylon and 20% by elastane.
 10. Feminine support device or garment according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the closure or fastening system (12) is selected from straps and hooks with buckles and Velcro straps. 